Dry cell



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,800

H. DE OLANETA DRY CELL Original Filed Sept. 2, 1919 Jam 4e UM J /a/wPatented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD m: OLANETA, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTERBEPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

DRY CELL.

Original application filed September 2, 1919, Serial No. 321,068.Divided and this application filed June 18,

1920. Serial No. 390,019. d

This invention relates to dry cells and while not limited in itsapplication to that purpose, it is primarily intended for employment inconnect-ion with small dry cells such as used for electric flash-lights.

The application is a division of my application, Serial No. 321,068,filed September 2nd, 1919, which matured into Patent No. 1,398,366November 29th, 1921.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of asimple, inexpensive, eflicient and easily assembled end closureconstruction for dry cells,

My invention also provides a construction 1 in which there issatisfactory provision for disposing harmlessly of the gas evolved inthe cell. It enables the cell to be closed at the upper end in a readyand inexpensive manner, owing to the fact that a comparatively thin diskor plug of suitable insulating material, such as insulating fibre, ma beutilized in place of the customary pitc seal. The disk may be readilyproduced, for example, bylcutting it from a sheet of ap- 2s propriate t'ckness, and a suitable means 1s provided for preventing displacementthereof and for maintaining the gas space in the upper portion of thecell.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelfeatures and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described andclaimed. 1

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of a(1 cell embodying my improvements; and

. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a somewhat modified form.

Ihave shown my improvements applied to a small dry cell of the typecommonly emp10 ed in connection with hand lamps or chat flash-lights.The cell comprises a rawn zinc on 10, which serves as one of theelectrodes. Vi ithin the cup is a cartridge 11 of suitable depolarizingmaterial surrounding and adhering to a carbon pencil 12 whichconstitutes the other electrode. The cartridge 11 is of less height thanthe cup and is usually enclosed in a orous wrapper or envelope 13. Thebody 0 paste 14 lnterposed between the side surface of the cartridge andthe side wall of the cup serves as a carrier or vehicle for the electroyte. A

suitable centering device 15 is preferably employed for centering thecartridge within the bottom portion of the cup.

The cell is closed at .the top by a disk or plug 16. This disk or lug isformed prior to its insertion within t e mouth of the cup and 1s made ofsuitable insulating material, for example, insulating fibre. The diskmay be comparatively thin and it may be conveniently formed by cuttingthe same from a sheet of insulating fibre of suitable thickness and thenperforating the disk centrally so that the carbon pencil may projectupward through the same. After the disk is inserted a suitable contactcap 17 is placed on top of the carbon pencil.

It will be observed that the disk 16 has a substantially flat undersurface, that is spaced some distance above the top of the cartridge 11.In the form shown in Fig. 1, the lower surface of the disk issubstantially above the cartridge and paste and faces the same withoutany intervening part, so as to 78 provide an open space 18. This spaceis of large capacity when the height of the same is considered, owing tothe fact that the only obstruction therein is that portion of the carbonpencil that passes therethrough. so Hence, a very satisfactory gaschamber may be provided for receiving and accommodating the gasesgenerated in the cell.

The cell shown in Fig. 2 is the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with theexception that 88 a thin washer 19, which may be of paper impregnatedwith paraifin, is laid on top of the cartridge so as to be supported onthe upper surface thereof and so as to project over and yieldinglyenclose the paste. In this case 90 the gas chamber 18 is created betweenthe top surface of the washer 19 and the under surface of the disk 16.

In order to prevent displacement of the disk 16 suitable securing meansare preferably provided. In the present instance the disk is lockedagainst either inward or outward dis lacement and is maintained at adistance rom the cartridge. For this purpose the metal of the side wallof the zinc cup is displaced relatively to the plug, for example byproviding an annular crimp 20 in the cup near the edge ortion thereof,the metal of the crimp being orced laterally and inwardly into a smallexterior groove 21 extending peripherally around the plug. The metal maybe readily spun or otherwise displaced so as to enter the groove in theplug after the lug has been inserted into the mouth of t e cup. In thismanner the plug is prevented from being forced out of the mouth of thecup by pressure of gas or otherwise, and it is prevented from beingforced inwardly by any ordinary blow received at the outslde.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the paper washer 19 by frictionally engagingthe side wall of the cup positions the cartridge and assists inmaintaining the gas space between the disk and the cartridge. This gasspace is preferably unobstructed except for the portion of the centralelectrode pencil lying therein, as explained. The paper washer 19, orits equivalent, is not necessary in all cases, however, as the electrodepencil may be fitted with such snugness in the central opening in thedisk 16 as to position the pencil and the cartridge against displacementunder ordinary conditions.

Variations may be made in the details of the device without departurefrom the scope of the invention as defined in the claim.

I do not claim herein the specific means 80 for locking the disk inplace in the zinc cup,

as claimed in the parent application; nor do I claim herein thecombination of a cup, a preformed plug or disk of insulating materialhaving an openin and an electrode engaging said opening w ereby theelectrode is centered in the cup, said disk and the other cell partsbeing constructed and arranged to present a gas chamber beneath and adacent the lower face of the plug so as to provide a gas space betweenthe periphery of the plug and the paste, as claimed in my applicationSerial No. 379,516.

What I claim is:

In a dry cell, a sheet metal cup, a cartridge therein having an 11wardly projecting pencil and a preformed isk in the mouth of the cup,said disk having an annular groove formed in the lateral edge thereof,the metal of the on wall being spun into said groove to lock t e disk inplace against inward or outward displacement and said disk beingsuspended above the cartridge to form a gas chamber between its entirelower surface and the cartridge and extending radlilally outward fromthe pencil to the cup wa In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my handon the 16th day of June, 1920.

HAROLD n1: OLANETA.

